Fluid meter



April 8, 1941. H L, BLUM 2.237.518

FLUID METER Filed Aug. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVENTOR.

BY my ATTORNEY.

H. L. BLUM pril 8, 1941.

FLUID METER Filed Aug. 27, 1937 Sheets-Sheet 3 IVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

April 8, 1941.V H 1 BLUM 2,237,518

FLUID HETER Filed Aug. 27. 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NV F NTOR,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE Appliciuunsu; hlIdlSLZZZ 18 Claims. l (Cl. 'I4-B0) My invention relates to fluid meters of the positive displacement type and has for an object the provision of a meter which is cheaply built by reason of the reduction of necessary parts to a minimum, by reason of the simplicity of construction of the parts and by reason of the ease oi assembly of the various parts into the complete unit.

Another object of my invention is the reduction in size of the fluid meter.

Yet another object of my invention is the reduction of mechanical and hydraulic friction to a minimum: y

Still another object of my invention is to produce a meter having extreme accuracy of measurement with a low differential of inlet and outlet pressures.

A further object of my invention is to reduce the noise usually incident to operation of a meter.

Another object of my invention is to reduce the vweight to a minimum without sacrificing strength or wearing qualities. y

A further object of my invention -is .to provide a control plate which is formed to permit the alignment ofthe centers of all its bearings in one plane.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control plate having a rim portion which ls oiset from the web por-tion.

Another object of my invention is to provide piston rod bearings which guide the piston rods into proper seating relation therein.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a piston retaining member for retaining the piston rods in the cylinders and within a predetermined degree of alignment with the axis of their respective cylinders.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cylinder block which is of minimum weight and maximum strength.

Still another object of my invention is to provide novel means for retaining the control plate in contact with its track.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide for passage of the liquid to be measured into the meter bowl while preventing passage of dirt and water.

Another object of my invention is to provide a free running valve which will not adhere to the valve seat plates and will thus reduce mechanical load or drag on the moving parts,

Still another object of my invention is to provide means for automatically aligning the various elements supported by the bowl and cylinder block when the valve crank and its driving member on the control plate are aligned andthe bowl and cylinder block are brought together.

Other objects will be apparentfrom a study of the specification and the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line II of Figure 3 showing the various parts in assembled relation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cylinder block and valve mechanism as seen with the cover removed.

Figure 3 is plan view of the bowl and-control mechanism.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the cylinder block showing the pistons, retainer and the crank and showing also the ribbed construction of the cylinder block. v

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2 showing .the means for maintaining the bowl, cylinder block and cover in assembled relation.

Figure 6 is -a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the relation of bearings, control plate ,and the track upon which the control plate runs.

Figure '7 is a plan view of a modified form of control plate which is die cast.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the control plate shown in Figure '7.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I indicates the cylinder block in which are formed preferably four cylinders 3 which are completely open downwardly but are closed by a head 5 at ltheir upper ends, The head is perforated as at 'I to provide ports through which liquid enters and leaves the cylinders. The cylinders are equidistantly spaced both radially and circumferentially about the axis of a central opening 9 in the block.

The opening 9 is cylindrical and is provided with a bushing Il of bronze or other'suitable bearing material which is adapted to receive a crankshaft I3 described below.

A hardened and ported valve seat plate I5, which is preferably of non-corrosive character such as stainless steel is ilxed to the head 5 in any suitable manner as by means of screws I1 and is provided with ports I9 (Figure 2) which are in alignment with the perforations 1 in the head. Said ports are formed to cooperate with a circular valve which moves in an orbital path as described below. The block is cored vertically as at 2I to provide openings therethrough while .at the same time providing a centrally disposed hub 23 (see Figure 4) in which the opening 9 is formed. 'I'he openings are somewhat restricted at their upper ends by bosses 25 which are pro- Vvided for the reception of screws I1 and by a radially extending flange 21 the upper face of which is somewhat below the plane oi' the lower tace of the valve seat plate I5 but in same plane as the upper face of the hub 23.

An annular screen 29 nts around the end of bushing II which projects upwardly beyond .the hub. 23 and is clamped along its outer periphery between the valve seat plate I5 and the -ldange 21. The screen is of such fine mesh that it will -prevent water from passing downward into the spaces 2| but it is not sufficiently fine to prevent the passage of the liquid to be measured such as gasoline. A cover indicated generally by .the numeral 3| rests upon the upper portion of the cylinder block and is provided with a ilange 33 by means of which the meter is connected with the dispensing line (not shown).

An inlet conduit 35 connects the flange with a chamber 31 formed by the cover and cylinder block while an outlet conduit 39 also connects the ilange with the chamber 31. The two conduits are bounded by a common dividing wall 4I and communication between the outlet conduit 39 and chamber 31 is established through an opening 43 passing through the wall 4I.

A- downwardly facing valve seat plate 45 is fixed to the cover by means of screws 41 in a position parallel to and concentric with the lower valve seat plate I5. The plate 45 however, is not provided with ports but has a central opening.

The upper portion of .the cover is provided with a downwardly directed boss 49 which is perforated as at 5I to provide a passage for the counter driving shaft 63. A boss 95 is arranged externally of the cover in axial alignment with the boss 49 and is counterbored as at 61 to receive packing 69 for the shaft $3 and a packing gland 1|. A spring 13 is arranged so as to bear upon the gland and is confined by a packing nut 15 which threadedly engages the exterior surface of the boss.

A collar 11 fits on the end of shaft 53 and a pin 19 is received transversely of the shaft and is adapted to connect with a slotted member of the counter mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 83 and which may be of any desired type such as the well known volume register or cost computing register.

A crank 35 is mounted at the upper end of the shaft I3 and is provided with a crank pin having a valve supporting portion 81 and a counter-driving portion 99. The latter is adapted to engage between an adjacent pair of teeth on. a star wheel 9| which is pinned or otherwise fixed to the shaft 63.

The valve comprises a hub 93 having radial arms 95 which support an annular ring 91 which in turn is provided with a ange 99 having a nnished surface adapted to engage the valve seat plate I5. The upper portion of the valve consists of a flanged annular ring |0I, the flange of which is nished and engages the upper valve seat plate. Lugs |03 on the lower ring serve to retain the rings in axial alignment and springs tend to maintain the ilanges in pressure contact with their respective valve seat plates. A flexible sealing strip |01 is supported by wires or other suitable means to seal the joint between the rings.

It will be seen that the valve serves to divide the chamber 31 into two portions, one of which is external and the other of which is internal of the valve. The internal portion communicates with outlet channel 39 through the opening 43 in the upper valve seat plate.

The path of the valve is orbital so that the ports I9 will successively be alternately opened into the portion of chamber 31 externally of the Avalve and then to the portion of the chamber internally of the valve so that they will be alternately connected in succession with/the inlet conduit 35 and with the outlet conduifr'lfaa the valve rotates.

The flanges of the valve rings are preferably ribbed both radially and circumferentially so as to form a multitude of closely adjacent depressions which serve to reduce the adhesion oi' the valve to the valve seat plates which would otherwise be present because of the intimate contact of accurate planar surfaces.

A bowl |09 which opens upwardly. is in contact with the lower portion of the cylinder block I. The bowl has formed integrally therewith, an annular track III. 'A centrally located boss |I3 is centrally perforated and internally threaded to receive a threaded journal supporting stem I I5. A lock nut I I1 is threadedly received on the stem for locking it in adjusted position. A sealing cap I|9 is also threadedly received on the stem to preclude unauthorized tampering with the adjustment of the journal.

The journal |2I is hemispherical and is undercut so that the hub |23 for the control plate may be formed with a bearing having a cylindrical portion |25 below the hemispherical bearing portion |21. The cylindrical portion is bevelled internally as at |29.

The hub |23 is elongated axially, formed with a shoulder I3| and bored axially at |33 to fixedly receive a shaft |35. A spring |31 fits over the boss and rests against the shoulder. A sleeve block |39 which is square in cross-section is mounted for both rotation and axial translation on the shaft and both'sleeve andl shaft are rounded at their free ends to form a cylindrical surface. Preferably the hub is of die cast material and the shaft |35 is cast therein as an insert. The hub |23 is formed with a flange |40 at its lower end which is drilled and tapped to receive screws |42 which serve to hold the control plate I4I on the hub.

The control plate |4I is preferably of pressed metal having a central radially extending web |43 and a rounded rim or tread portion |45 which is out of the plane of the web. The rim and web are joined by a substantially frusto-conical, upwardly diverging connecting flange |41. The web is perforated as at |49 near the flange |41 to receive bearings |5I. The perforations are preferably four in number and are located equidistantly from the axis of hub |23 on the opposite ends of perpendicular intersecting diameters of the control plate.

Bearings |5| are formed with three concentric external cylindrical portions |53, |55 anda |51 of successively decreasing diameters. The cylindrical portion |55 is undercut as at |53 so that when the bearing is inserted through perforation |49, the undercut portion |55 may be swed'ged outwardly so as to retain the bearing in position in the plate.

Each bearing is provided internally with a substantially hemispherical seat IBI near the bottom and a truste-conical section |33 which joins the seat with an opening |35 of much larger diameter at the upper end of the bearing so that a journal later to be described will be readily guided into position on the seat |5I.

A bearing member |01 is inserted in an opening |99 disposed intermediate of two of the perwij I ierations |40 and is fastened in a mannersimilar to that by which bearings are fixed in the plate. The member |31 is perforated as at |1| and the internal surfaces are rounded axially so .that continuous rollingcontact may be established and maintained between the member |81 and a pin |13.

The pin |13 is preferably knurled for a short distance at one end and this end is pressed into anopening |15 in a boss |11. A sleeve |18 of plastic material such as "Formica is slipped over the pin and is held in place thereon by the portion of the knurled end which is not received in the opening |15.

listons |8| made up of leathers |83 and backing discs |85 are assembled on piston rods |81. Hemispherical journals |88 are formed on the lower ends of the rods and are adapted: to coopcrate with the bearings |5| heretofore described.

A guide plate lili having openings |93 therein is iixed by means of screws |85 or other suit able fastenings to the lower face of the cylinder bloeit. The piston rods nt loosely in the openings |83 but thevdlameters of the openings andv of the portions of the piston rods associated therewith are such that the centers of the journais |39 are always well within the openings |55 o1 the bearings |5|.

The crank |81 is :lixed to the lower endof the crank shaft i3 by means of a study and nut or any other suitable fastening. The crank comprise; a pair of arms |88 with an intervening upwnrdiy inclined connecting portion 20| and these elements cooperate to receive the shaft |35 and sleeve |33. As is clearly shown in Figure 4, the cylinder block is cored out, leaving comparatively thin cylinder walls 203 and supporting webs 205 which lie between Iianges 201 and 208 (Figures 1 and 5) which are provided with pairs of aligned openings 2| i. The cover 3| is provided with a llanto 2|3 o'f the same size as flange 201 and this flange is perforated as at2l5.

Similarly the bowl |08 is provided with a flange 211 which is adapted to mate with the ange 200 of the block and is provided with bosses 2|! which are internally threaded as' at 22| to receive tie bolts 223 which pass through the openings in the cover and block and hold these elements and the bowl in proper relation. Any desirable gasket material 225 may be provided to seal the joints between these elements.

ri'he cover may be formed with reinforcing ribs 221 and the bowl may be provided with similar ribs 228. A drain plug 23| is also fitted into-an opening 233 in-a boss 235 of the bowl.

Zit-has been found that by forming the control ,plate lli into a dish or saucer shape, the centers of the radii of bearings |2| and' |5|l can be brought into a common plane. Thus as shown in Figure 6, the centers A. ZB, and C show on the same line in elevation. l The rounded bead or rim of the control plate contacts the track at a, point D on a circle which shows as the line DG in elevation in Figure 6 while the plane of the track shows as the line DE. By designing the parts so that the angle formed by the line DG and a line DBF throughthe bearing |21 is equal to the angle formed by the line Dlii'with the line DBF, it has been found that only one pin |13 need be employed to the control plate in proper angular position with respect to the pistous.

The meter is designed primarily for cheapness of construction so far as this il possible without sacrificing wearing qualities and accuracy.

. 5 i, this reason the block, cover and bowl are pref erably of die cast construction.

Fbr the same reason the bearings |5| and |21 are formed open so that assembly will be facilitated. it being necessary only to place the parts in proper relation with each other without the necessity of connecting them.

In assembling the meter, parts of which are described in detail above. the cover is fitted with the star wheel al, snm sa, me stumng box, c61- lar 11, pin 18, valve seat plate 45 and if desired with the counter 83 although this element may be attached at any' suitable time.

Similarly the cylinder block l is fitted with the pistons which are held in place by the retaining plate ISI. 'I'he bushing is ntted in the central bore 8. the screen 28 is iltted over the bushing and the lower valve seat plate is xed in place to hold the screen. The crankshaft I3 is inserted in the bushing and the lower crank |81 is fixed in place. 'I'he valve assembly is mounted on the upper crank.

The bowl assembly comprises the central stud ||5 which is screwed in place, the pin |13 which is pressed into place and has the sleeve |18 pressed into place over the knurled portion and plug 23| which is also screwed in place.

The control plate assembly is made up by swedging the the bearings |5| and bushing 181 into place in the pressed member and mounting the member on the hub |23. The spring |31 and the sleeve block |38 are mounted on the shaft |35 which has been pressed into the hub. This sub-assembly is then placed with bushing |81 in position over stud |13 and with bearing |21 on journal |2|.

When the cover assembly is placed on the cylinder block assembly which is provided with gasket 225, with openings 2H and 2|! in alignment, the screws 223 may be dropped in place. 'There-z upon it is necessary merely to place a. gasket on the bowl, raise the bowl and control plate assembly into engagement with the block being careful that the sleeve block enters the space between arms |88 of the lower crank with the rounded portion of the block in contact with the inclined surface .20| and engage the screws with the' threaded openings 22| in the bowl. In drawing up the screws, the spring .|31 will be compressed and the bead |45 of the control plate will be forced into yielding engagement with the track No attention need be given to the relation of the bearings |5| and journals |88 since these will be automatically aligned by the stud |13 and the screws 223 and due to the bell shaped guide opening in the bearings the Journals will come to rest in proper relation witl respect to the bearings.

In operation, liquid enters passage 35 and chamber 31 outside of the valve and passes through the ports in the lower valve seat plate which are open outside of the valve and into the corresponding cylinders. 'I'he pistons therein are forced downwardly and transmit a thrust to the control plate |4| which is thereby forced to rotate on the track'lll. A

The sleeve block |38 will describe a circular path and will rotate the crank 85 and will cause the axis of the valve to move in a circular path. The crank relations are such that when any one of the pistons is in upper or lower dead center positions the corresponding port in the valve seat plate is substantially closed by the valve and such that astheupperdead centerpositionispassed For the valve moves so as to expose the port extervprlsing a liquid retaining bowl, a circular track expelled will pass internally of the valve, through Y opening 43 in wall 4| and out through conduit 39.

During the initial few cycles of operation of the meter, the bowl |09 will be filled by liquid owing through screen 29 and openings 2| into the bowl. The screen will however, prevent the passage of water and dirt` into the bowl and will thus protect th'e moving parts therein against corrosion and abrasion. The liquid which thus enters the bowl is segregated from the flow of liquid passing through the meter although it is forced to circulate in the bowl by the action of the pistons. It thus furnishes constant lubrication for the working parts in the bowl.

The pin |13 counteracts any tendency of the control plate to creep about. on the track and the sleeve |19 eliminates such noise as might be caused by the metal to metal contact between the pin and control plate.

Sleeve block |39 being pressed outwardly of hub |23 by spring |31 will maintain the control plate bead |45 in contact with the track and will compensate for any inaccuracy in the depth of the bowl between the track and flange 2|1 so that no great care need be taken in flnishing these surfaces. It similarly compensates for any adjustment of journal |2|.

A modified form of control plate is shown in Figures '1 and 8. This form is die cast instead of being fabricated and has a hub 231, a web 239 extending radially therefrom, and terminating in a substantially axially directed rim 24| which is formed with a tread portion 243.

The web is eut away at 245 to lighten the structure and strengthening ribs 241 are provided between the hub and bearings 248 and between the latter and the rim 24|.

The bearings are spherical and are provided with frustro-conical openings 25| which guide the piston rod journals into the bearings. Openings 253 are provided at the bottoms of the bearings to permit passage of liquid to and from the bearings for drainage and lubrication.

A portion 255 of reduced diameter is formed on the hub to receive the block |39 shown in Figure 1 while the webs are shouldered at 251 to afford a seat for the spring |31 which bears against the block. A spherical bearing 259 is formed in the lower portion of the hub to receive the supporting journal |2| (Figure 1).

It is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of the mecham'sms here disclosed and the parts thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

What applicant considers to be new and desires to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fluid meter, means forming a circular track, a journaLmeans for supporting said journal centrally of said track, a circular control plate, means for supporting said plate on said journal for motion thereabout and in rolling relation with said track, so that the planes of said plate and track intersect, a single pin supported in xed relation with respect to said track and engaging a bearing in said plate to prevent circumferential progression of said plate on said track, said pin comprising a noise reducing sheath. l

2. In a fluid meter, a control assembly comformed integrally therewith, a journal, means for supporting the journal in said bowl, a pin supported by said bowl, a control plate adapted to be supported by said journal for rolling contact with said track, said plate having a bearing adapted to receive said pin to prevent sliding of said plate with respect to said track, said pin having sufficient length to contact said bearing in any position of the plate.

3. In a fluid meter, a control plate comprising a central hub member, having a central bearing and a substantially radial flange, an element comprising a substantially radial web, a substantially axially directed flange at its outer cirmounted on a central bearing, in inclined relan tion with respect to said track for rolling contact therewith, a hub extending axially from said control plate and having an elongated journal which revolves about an axis perpendicular to the track as the control plate rolls, a bifurcated crank having its axis of rotation in alignment with the axis of revolution of said journal, an inclined surface extending into the bifurcation facing the control plate and sloping downwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the crank, a block mounted for rotation and for axial translation on said journal and adapted to engage in said bifurcation and to abut said inclined surface, yieldable means for urging said block into engagement with said surface so as to hold the control plate in engagement with said track.

6. In a fluid meter, a track, a control plate mounted on a central bearing, in inclined relation with respect to said track for rolling contact therewith, a hub extending axially from said control plate and having an elongated journal which revolves about an axis perpendicular to the track as the control plate rolls, a bifurcated crank havingits axis of rotation in alignment with the axis of revolution of said journal, an inclined surface extending into the bifurcation facing the control plate and sloping downwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the crank, a block mounted for rotation and for axial translation on said journal and having a semicylindrical end portion adapted to engage in said bifurcation and to abut said inclined surface, yieldable means for urging said surface so as to hold the control plate in engagement with said track.

7. In a control mechanism for a fluid meter, a hub, a web extending from the hub and provided with a tread, a journal on said hub extending substantially axially of said tread, a combined pressure block and power transmitting member mounted for translation on said journal and means for yieldably resisting translation of said bearing member.

8. In a control mechanism for a fluid meter, a hub, a web extending from said hub and provided with a tread portion, a journal on said hub extending substantially axially of said tread, a combined pressure block and power transmitting member mounted for translation on said journal. said block being of polygonal crow-section and having its outer end rounded.

9. In a control plate for a fluid meter, a hub, a spherical bearing in said hub opening in one direction, a sheet metal web member fixed to said hub, spherical bearing inserts individually mounted in said web, means associated with each of said bearing inserts forming a guide opening having walls converging toward said bearing and merging with the walls thereof.

10. In a uid meter, a control assembly comprising a iluid retaining bowl, a circular planar track formed integrally with said bowl, a :lournal, means for adjustably supporting said .lournal in said bowl substantially transversely o! the plane oi' the track, guide means, and means supporting said guide means to extend into said bowl and substantially parallel to said journal.

11. In a fluid meter, a cylinder block, pistons arranged in said block and having piston rods provided with end journals, means for preventing lateral motion oi.' said piston rods beyond predetermined limits. a control plate having bearings, one for each Journal, means for supporting said control plate with the bearings in cooperative relation with said journals. means on said control plate adapted to guide said journals into said bearings from any lateral position within said predetermined limits. said preventing means being independent of said control plate.

12. In a fluid meter, a cylinder block, pistons arranged in said block and having piston rods provided with end journals, piston rod guide means for preventing lateral motion of said piston rods beyond predetermined limits. a control plate having bearings, one tor each journal, means for supporting said control plate with the bearings in cooperative relation with said journals, means on said control plate adapted to guide said Journals into said bearings from any lateral position within said predetermined limits, said preventing means being independent oi said control plate.

13. In a control plate for a fluid meter, a hub, a web extending laterally from said hub and a tread oil'set axially from and curving radially beyond said web in the direction of said offset. bearings formed in said control plate, said hub. web, tread and bearings being integrally cast.

14. In a duid meter, a cylinder block. pistons arranged one in each cylinder thereof and provided with rods having journals thereon, a bowl adapted to be attached to said block and having a track, a control plate mounted in said bo'wl for rolling on said track, bearings, one for each piston rod journal, formed in said plate, retaining means mounted on said block and provided with perforations adapted to receive the piston rods and guide them to enter said bearings, and means in said bowl cooperating with the control plate to maintain the bearings in position to be entered by the piston rod journals when the bowl is attached to the block.

15. In a fluid meter, a cylinder block. pistons arranged in said block and having piston rods provided with end Journals, a retainer element attached to said block and adapted to receive sala piston rods and to prevent lateral motion of said piston rods beyond xed limits, a control plate having bearings, one for each journal, means for supporting said control plate with the bearings in cooperative relation with said journais, means on said control plate adapted to guide said journals into said bearings from any position within said fixed limits.

1 8. In a fluid meter, a control plate comprising a central hub member, having a central bearing, an element comprising a substantially radial web connected to said hub member, a substantially axially directed ange at its outer circumference which terminates in a substantially radially outwardly extending tread, a plurality oi ierforations in said web circumierentially disposed about said hub member. bearing members adapted to fit into said openings and to be fixed in place therein. Y

17. In a control plate for a duid meter comprising a hub, a web extending from said hub and provided at its outer circumference with a bearing ring, perforations in said web radially oi said hub, bearing members each having an undercut reduced portion adapted to fit into said perforations. and to extend through the web. said extending undercut portion being spun outwardly to hold said bearing in place in the web.

18. In a fluid meter, a control assembly comprising a liquid retaining bowl. a circular track formed integrally therewith, a Journal, means for supporting the journal. in said bowl, a pin, means supporting said pin to project into said bowl, a control plate adapted to be supported by said Journal for rolling contact with said track. said plate having a bearing adapted to receive said pin to prevent sliding of said plate with respect to said track. saidpin having'sumcicnt length to contact said bearing in any position of said Flte.

HOBMER L. BLUE. 

